Beverage containers with tactile elements

ABSTRACT

At least one tactile element is provided on the exterior surface of the container, overlying at least one of the at least one graphic elements. This tactile element is formed of at least two distinct layers of an overvarnish applied over, and having a thickness that can be felt by a user touching the container.

CROSS-REFERENCED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application Ser.No. 62/504,227 filed on May 10, 2017 and 62/504,530 filed on May 10,2017. The disclosures of the above-referenced applications areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to BEVERAGE CONTAINERS WITH TACTILEELEMENTS.

BACKGROUND

This section provides background information related to the presentdisclosure which is not necessarily prior art.

This invention relates to containers, and in particular to beveragecontainers such as aluminum cans and bottles.

Beverage cans and bottles are typically decorated with printed graphicsand/or applied labels to make the container more attention-getting andattractive to potential purchasers. Sometimes the container shape and/orcoloring of various container parts is used to make a container standout. Beverage container designs are constantly evolving as users try tomake their container more unique and distinctive.

SUMMARY

This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not acomprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.

Embodiments of the present invention provide beverage containers ofunique and distinctive appearances. A preferred embodiment provides acontainer having an exterior surface with an image on the exteriorsurface of the beverage container that comprises at least one graphicelement. There is at least one tactile element on the exterior surfaceof the container, overlying at least one of the at least one graphicelements. This tactile element preferably comprises at least twodistinct layers of an overvarnish applied over the image on the exteriorof the container, and having a thickness that can be felt by a usertouching the container. The container is preferably an aluminum can orbottle or a glass bottle, but could be a can or bottle or othercontainer of some other material.

The at least one graphical element preferably depicts a structureprojecting from the surface of the container, such as an ice cube orwater droplet, and the at least one tactile element overlying thegraphical element has a shape corresponding to the shape of the portionof the depicted structure projecting from the surface of the container.Thus, in the case of an image of an ice cube, the tactile element wouldhave the shape of the corner or edge of the ice cube; in the case of animage of a droplet, the tactile element would have the shape of adroplet; and in the case of an image of a piece of fruit, the tactileelement would have the shape of the fruit peel. The image could be anyprintable image, and the corresponding tactile element would have thecorresponding shape.

The tactile element can be built up using an overvarnish, which isconventionally used to protect the printed graphical elements during theremainder of the life cycle of the container. These overvarnishes aretypically UV curable (i.e., curable upon exposure to UV light). Eachlayer is preferably at least partially cured after it is applied andbefore the next layer is applied, but this is not essential.

There are preferably a plurality of tactile elements on each beveragecontainer. In some embodiments, the plurality of tactile elements arepositioned to define a preferred area for grasping the container suchthat a particular portion of the container, such as that portion bearinga label element, is oriented in a preselected orientation when graspedby a user in the preferred area.

In some embodiments, at least some of the tactile elements may bedesigned to be uncomfortable to the touch, and these tactile elementsare distributed outside the preferred area for grasping the container,to thereby discourage grasping the container outside of the preferredarea. In other embodiments, at least some of the tactile elements may bedesigned to be comfortable to the touch, and these tactile elements aredistributed inside the preferred area for grasping the container, tothereby encourage grasping the container inside of the preferred area.In still other embodiments, at least some of the tactile elements arepositioned around the perimeter of the preferred area for grasping thecontainer, to thereby encourage grasping the container inside of thepreferred area.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the descriptionprovided herein. The description and specific examples in this summaryare intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended tolimit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only ofselected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are notintended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a first preferred embodiment of acontainer constructed according to the principles of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of a second preferred embodiment of acontainer constructed according to the principles of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a third preferred embodiment of acontainer constructed according to the principles of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of a fourth preferred embodiment of acontainer constructed according to the principles of this invention;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of a fifth preferred embodiment of acontainer constructed according to the principles of this invention;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of a sixth preferred embodiment of acontainer constructed according to the principles of this invention;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of a seventh preferred embodiment of acontainer constructed according to the principles of this invention; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a system for manufacturing containersof the preferred embodiment.

Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference tothe accompanying drawings.

Embodiments of the present invention provide beverage containers ofunique and distinctive appearances. A first preferred embodiment of sucha container is indicated generally as 20 in FIG. 1. The container 20 isan aluminum can, but the container could be some other type ofcontainer, and could be made of some other material.

The container 20 has an exterior surface 22 with an image 24 on theexterior surface of the beverage container that comprises at least one,and in this preferred embodiment a plurality of graphic elements. Thegraphic elements include graphic elements 26. There is at least onetactile element 28 on the exterior surface 22 of the container 20,overlying at least one of the at least one graphic elements 26. Thistactile element 28 preferably comprises at least two distinct layers ofan overvarnish applied over the image 22 on the exterior 22 of thecontainer 20, and having a thickness that can be felt by a user touchingthe container. It has been reported that humans can detect surfacefeatures as small as 13 mm. The thickness of a tactile element 28 maynot be uniform, and it is preferably at least about 0.004 inches (0.1mm), and more preferably at least about 0.04 inches (1 mm), and mostpreferably at least about 0.05 inches (1.4 mm thick). In this preferredembodiment it is desirable that the tactile element be both visually andtactilely discernable, but in other embodiments it is sufficient thatthe tactile element 28 can be tactilely discerned, i.e., sensed bytouch.

In this first preferred embodiment, the graphic elements 26 are imagesof droplets printed on the surface 22 of the container 20, and thetactile elements 28 are shaped like the portion of a droplet that wouldproject from the surface of the container.

A second preferred embodiment of a container is indicated generally as30 in FIG. 2. The container 30 is an aluminum can, but the containercould be some other type of container, and could be made of some othermaterial.

The container 30 has an exterior surface 32 with an image 34 on theexterior surface of the beverage container that comprises at least one,and in this preferred embodiment a plurality of graphic elements 36 and38. There is at least one tactile element on the exterior surface 32 ofthe container 32, overlying at least one graphic elements 36 and 38, andin this preferred embodiment there are at least two tactile elements 42and 44 overlying at least one of the graphic elements 36 and 38,respectively. These tactile elements 40 and 42 preferably comprise atleast two distinct layers of an overvarnish applied over the image 34 onthe exterior of the container 30, and having a thickness that can befelt by a user touching the container. It has been reported that humanscan detect surface features as small as 13 mm. The thickness of atactile elements 40 and 42 may not be uniform, and it is preferably atleast about 0.004 inches (0.1 mm), and more preferably at least about0.04 inches (1 mm), and most preferably at least about 0.05 inches (1.4mm thick). In this preferred embodiment it is desirable that the tactileelement be both visually and tactilely discernable, but in otherembodiments it is sufficient that the tactile elements 42 and 44 can betactilely discerned, i.e., sensed by touch.

In this second preferred embodiment, the graphic elements 36 are imagesof droplets printed on the surface of the container 30 and the graphicelements 38 are images of ice chips, and the tactile elements 40 areshaped like the portion of a droplet that would project from the surfaceof the container 30 and the tactile elements 42 are shaped like theportion of an ice chip that would project from the surface of thecontainer 30.

A third preferred embodiment of such a container is indicated generallyas 50 in FIG. 3. The container 50 is an aluminum can, but the containercould be some other type of container, and could be made of some othermaterial.

The container 50 has an exterior surface 52 with an image 54 on theexterior surface of the beverage container that comprises at least one,and in this preferred embodiment a plurality of graphic elements. Thegraphic elements include graphic elements 56. There is at least onetactile element 58 on the exterior surface 52 of the container 50,overlying at least one of the at least one graphic elements 56. Thistactile element 58 preferably comprises at least two distinct layers ofan overvarnish applied over the image 54 on the exterior 52 of thecontainer 50, and having a thickness that can be felt by a user touchingthe container. It has been reported that humans can detect surfacefeatures as small as 13 mm. The thickness of a tactile element 58 maynot be uniform, and it is preferably at least about 0.004 inches (0.1mm), and more preferably at least about 0.04 inches (1 mm), and mostpreferably at least about 0.05 inches (1.4 mm thick). In this preferredembodiment it is desirable that the tactile element be both visually andtactilely discernable, but in other embodiments it is sufficient thatthe tactile element 58 can be tactilely discerned, i.e., sensed bytouch.

In this first preferred embodiment, the graphic elements 56 are imagesof foam printed on the surface 52 of the container 50, and the tactileelements 58 are shaped like the portion of the foam that would projectfrom the surface of the container.

A fourth preferred embodiment of such a container is indicated generallyas 60 in FIG. 4. The container 60 is an aluminum can, but the containercould be some other type of container, and could be made of some othermaterial.

The container 60 has an exterior surface 62 with an image 64 on theexterior surface of the beverage container that comprises at least one,and in this preferred embodiment a plurality of graphic elements. Thegraphic elements include graphic elements 66. There is at least onetactile element 68 on the exterior surface 62 of the container 60,overlying at least one of the at least one graphic elements 66. Thistactile element 68 preferably comprises at least two distinct layers ofan overvarnish applied over the image 64 on the exterior 62 of thecontainer 60, and having a thickness that can be felt by a user touchingthe container. It has been reported that humans can detect surfacefeatures as small as 13 mm. The thickness of a tactile element 68 maynot be uniform, and it is preferably at least about 0.004 inches (0.1mm), and more preferably at least about 0.04 inches (1 mm), and mostpreferably at least about 0.05 inches (1.4 mm thick). In this preferredembodiment it is desirable that the tactile element be both visually andtactilely discernable, but in other embodiments it is sufficient thatthe tactile element 58 can be tactilely discerned, i.e., sensed bytouch.

In this fourth preferred embodiment, the graphic elements 66 are animage of a fish printed on the surface 62 of the container 60, and thetactile element 68 is shaped like the portion of the fish that wouldproject from the surface of the container. The tactile element 68 canhave a texture like fish scales over appropriate portions to enhance therepresentation of the fish.

A fifth preferred embodiment of such a container is indicated generallyas 70 in FIG. 5. The container 70 is an aluminum can, but the containercould be some other type of container, and could be made of some othermaterial.

The container 70 has an exterior surface 72 with an image 74 on theexterior surface of the beverage container that comprises at least one,and in this preferred embodiment a plurality of graphic elements. Thegraphic elements include graphic elements 76. There is at least onetactile element 78 on the exterior surface 72 of the container 70,overlying at least one of the at least one graphic elements 76. Thistactile element 78 preferably comprises at least two distinct layers ofan overvarnish applied over the image 74 on the exterior 72 of thecontainer 70, and having a thickness that can be felt by a user touchingthe container. It has been reported that humans can detect surfacefeatures as small as 13 mm. The thickness of a tactile element 78 maynot be uniform, and it is preferably at least about 0.004 inches (0.1mm), and more preferably at least about 0.04 inches (1 mm), and mostpreferably at least about 0.05 inches (1.4 mm thick). In this preferredembodiment it is desirable that the tactile element be both visually andtactilely discernable, but in other embodiments it is sufficient thatthe tactile element 78 can be tactilely discerned, i.e., sensed bytouch.

In this fifth preferred embodiment, the graphic elements 76 are imagesof mountains printed on the surface 72 of the container 70, and thetactile element 78 is shaped like the portion of the mountain that wouldproject from the surface of the container.

A sixth preferred embodiment of such a container is indicated generallyas 80 in FIG. 6. The container 80 is an aluminum can, but the containercould be some other type of container, and could be made of some othermaterial.

The container 80 has an exterior surface 82 with an image 84 on theexterior surface of the beverage container that comprises at least one,and in this preferred embodiment a plurality of graphic elements. Thegraphic elements include graphic elements 86. There is at least onetactile element 88 on the exterior surface 82 of the container 80,overlying at least one of the at least one graphic elements 86. Thistactile element 88 preferably comprises at least two distinct layers ofan overvarnish applied over the image 84 on the exterior 82 of thecontainer 80, and having a thickness that can be felt by a user touchingthe container. It has been reported that humans can detect surfacefeatures as small as 13 mm. The thickness of a tactile element 88 maynot be uniform, and it is preferably at least about 0.004 inches (0.1mm), and more preferably at least about 0.04 inches (1 mm), and mostpreferably at least about 0.05 inches (1.4 mm thick). In this preferredembodiment it is desirable that the tactile element be both visually andtactilely discernable, but in other embodiments it is sufficient thatthe tactile element 88 can be tactilely discerned, i.e., sensed bytouch.

In this sixth preferred embodiment, the graphic elements 86 are imagesof frost printed on the surface 82 of the container 80, and the tactileelement 88 is shaped like the portion of the frost that would projectfrom the surface of the container.

A seventh preferred embodiment of a container is indicated generally as90 in FIG. 7. The container 90 is a glass bottle, but the containercould be some other type of container, and could be made of some othermaterial.

The container 90 has an exterior surface 92 with an image 94 on theexterior surface of the beverage container that comprises at least one,and in this preferred embodiment a plurality of graphic elements 96, 98and 100. There is at least one tactile element on the exterior surface92 of the container 90, overlying at least one graphic elements 96, 98and 100, and in this preferred embodiment there are at least threetactile elements 102, 104, and 106 overlying at least one of the graphicelements 96, 98 and 100, respectively. These tactile elements 102, 104,and 106 preferably comprises at least two distinct layers of anovervarnish applied over the image 94 on the exterior of the container90, and having a thickness that can be felt by a user touching thecontainer. It has been reported that humans can detect surface featuresas small as 13 mm. The thickness of a tactile elements 102, 104, and 106may not be uniform, and it is preferably at least about 0.004 inches(0.1 mm), and more preferably at least about 0.04 inches (1 mm), andmost preferably at least about 0.05 inches (1.4 mm thick). In thispreferred embodiment it is desirable that the tactile element be bothvisually and tactilely discernable, but in other embodiments it issufficient that the tactile elements 42 and 44 can be tactilelydiscerned, i.e., sensed by touch.

In this seventh preferred embodiment, the graphic elements 96 are imagesof droplets printed on the surface of the container 90 and the graphicelements 98 are images of ice chips printed on the surface of thecontainer, and the graphic elements 100 is a lime twist, and the tactileelements 102 are shaped like the portion of a droplet that would projectfrom the surface of the container 90, the tactile elements 104 areshaped like the portion of an ice chip that would project from thesurface of the container 90, and the tactile element 106 is shaped likethe portion of the lime twist that would project from the container 90,optionally including a textured rind.

There are preferably a plurality of tactile elements on each beveragecontainer. In some embodiments, the plurality of tactile elements arepositioned to define a preferred area for grasping the container suchthat a particular portion of the container, such as that portion bearinga label element, is oriented in a preselected orientation when graspedby a user in the preferred area.

In some embodiments, at least some of the tactile elements may bedesigned to be uncomfortable to the touch, and these tactile elementsare distributed outside the preferred area for grasping the container,to thereby discourage grasping the container outside of the preferredarea. In other embodiments, at least some of the tactile elements may bedesigned to be comfortable to the touch, and these tactile elements aredistributed inside the preferred area for grasping the container, tothereby encourage grasping the container inside of the preferred area.In still other embodiments, at least some of the tactile elementscomprise are positioned around the perimeter of the preferred area forgrasping the container, to thereby encourage grasping the containerinside of the preferred area.

The tactile elements described above can be built up using anovervarnish, which is conventionally used to protect the printedgraphical elements during the remainder of the life cycle of thecontainer. These overvarnishes are typically colorless and eithertransparent or translucent, but they could include color as well. Theseovervarnishes are typically UV curable (i.e., curable upon exposure toUV light). Each layer is preferably at least partially cured after it isapplied and before the next layer is applied.

A preferred embodiment of a system for making the containers of thepreferred embodiment is shown schematically as 120 in FIG. 8. System 120comprises a turntable 122 for rotating a container on which a imagecomprising at least one graphical element has been applied. The system120 further comprises an applicator 124, which may be similar to an inkjet print head, or other suitable application system. The applicator 124may extend over the entire vertical height of the container to which thetactile elements are applied, or it can be indexed vertically so thattactile elements can be applied to along the vertical height of thecontainer. A curing system 126, such as a UV curing system, is providedto cure the varnish after it has been applied to the surface of thebottle. The curing system 126, like the applicator 124, may extend overthe entire vertical height of the container to which the tactileelements are applied, or it can be indexed vertically so that tactileelements can be applied to along the vertical height of the container.

A camera or similar optical scanning system can be provided to confirmthat the system 120 is in proper registration with the container, and/orto inspect the tactile elements as they are built up on the exterior ofthe container.

The components of the system 120 are under the control of a control 130,which operates the turntable 112, the applicator 124, and curing system126, preferably with feedback from the camera 128 to ensure that thetactile elements are properly aligned with their respective graphicelements.

The tactile elements described herein are preferably between about 0.004inches (0.1 mm) and about 0.25 inches (6.35 mm); more preferably betweenabout 0.04 inches (1 mm) and about 0.2 inches (5 mm) and most preferablyabout 0.1 inch (2.5 mm). Typically printing thicknesses range from about0.002 inches (0.05 mm) and about 0.013 inches (0.33 mm), thus multiplelayers may be required to form the tactile layers.

The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided forpurposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or featuresof a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particularembodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be usedin a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described.The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to beregarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modificationsare intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A beverage container has an image on its exteriorsurface that includes at least one graphic element. At least one tactileelement is provided on the exterior surface of the container, overlyingat least one of the at least one graphic elements. This tactile elementis formed of at least two distinct layers of an overvarnish appliedover, and having a thickness that can be felt by a user touching thecontainer.
 2. The beverage container according to claim 1, wherein thebeverage container is an aluminum can.
 3. The beverage containeraccording to claim 1, wherein the beverage container is a glass bottle.4. The beverage container according to claim 1, wherein the beveragecontainer is an aluminum bottle.
 5. The beverage container according toclaim 1 wherein the at least one graphical element depicts a structureprojecting from the surface of the container, and wherein the at leastone tactile element overlying the graphical element has a shapecorresponding to the shape of the portion of the depicted structureprojecting from the surface of the container.
 6. The beverage containeraccording to claim 5, wherein the at least one graphic element is adepiction of a droplet, and wherein the tactile element over the graphicelement is shaped like a droplet.
 7. The beverage container according toclaim 5, wherein the at least one graphic element is a depiction of ice,and wherein the tactile element over the graphic element is shaped likeice.
 8. The beverage container according to claim 5, wherein the atleast one graphic element is a depiction of at least a portion of apiece of fruit, and wherein the tactile element over the graphic elementfeels like the skin of the piece of fruit.
 9. The beverage containeraccording to claim 5, wherein the at least one graphic element is alabel, and wherein the tactile element over the graphic element isshaped like the label.
 10. The beverage container according to claim 1wherein the overvarnish is UV curable, and wherein each layer ofovervarnish is at least partially cured before the next layer isapplied.
 11. The beverage container according to claim 1 wherein the inkis UV curable, and wherein each layer of overvarnish is at leastpartially cured before the next layer is applied.
 12. A beveragecontainer having an exterior surface; an image on the exterior surfaceof the beverage container, the image comprising at least one labelelement; and a plurality of tactile elements on the exterior surface ofthe container, the tactile elements having a thickness that can be feltby a user touching the container, and being positioned to define apreferred area for grasping the container such that the label element isoriented in a preselected orientation when grasped by a user in thepreferred area.
 13. The container according to claim 12 wherein thetactile elements comprise a plurality of tactile elements that areuncomfortable to the touch, and wherein these tactile elements aredistributed outside the preferred area for grasping the container, tothereby discourage grasping the container outside of the preferred area.14. The container according to claim 12 wherein the tactile elementscomprise a plurality of tactile elements that are comfortable to thetouch, and wherein these tactile elements are distributed inside thepreferred area for grasping the container, to thereby encourage graspingthe container inside of the preferred area.
 15. The container accordingto claim 12 wherein the tactile elements comprise a plurality of tactileelements positioned around the perimeter of the preferred area forgrasping the container, to thereby encourage grasping the containerinside of the preferred area.
 16. The container according to claim 13wherein the tactile elements comprise a plurality of tactile elementspositioned around the perimeter of the preferred area for grasping thecontainer, to thereby encourage grasping the container inside of thepreferred area.